Russia strikes ports of Odesa and Chornomorsk with ballistic missiles, Turkish cargo ship hit
Photo: a Turkish ferry was damaged and a fire broke out on one of the vessels as a result of the attack (t.me/V_Zelenskiy_official)
On Friday, December 12, Russian forces carried out a missile strike on the Ukrainian ports of Chornomorsk and Odesa. As a result of the attack, a Turkish-flagged ferry was damaged, and a fire broke out on one of the vessels, according to statements from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Minister for Communities and Territories Development Oleksii Kuleba on Telegram.
"Today’s Russian strike, like many other similar attacks, had no and could have no military purpose. A civilian vessel in the port of Chornomorsk was damaged," Zelenskyy said.
The President noted that this once again proves that Russia not only fails to take the current chance for diplomacy seriously but also seeks to destroy normal life in Ukraine.
"Right now, everything is being done in Odesa and Chornomorsk to protect lives, just as in Kharkiv, Sumy, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and the cities of our Donetsk region," the country’s leader emphasized.
Kuleba reported that a Turkish-flagged ferry was damaged at Chornomorsk port, with no casualties reported so far. He added that a fire broke out on one of the vessels.
In Odesa port, an employee of a private company was injured and is receiving medical care. A container crane was also damaged.
"The strike targets civilian logistics and commercial shipping. Russia systematically attacks port infrastructure that ensures the transport of food and goods to global markets," the minister noted.
He explained that an assessment of the condition of facilities and vessels is currently underway. Recovery efforts have already begun in coordination with port administrations and emergency services.
Attack on the Odesa region on December 12
Earlier today, a series of explosions were heard in Odesa and the surrounding region. It later became known that Russian forces once again carried out drone strikes on the region’s energy infrastructure facilities.
DTEK (the largest energy company in Ukraine) reported that one of their substations was hit — this was already the 20th substation to suffer significant damage in the Odesa region. Another energy company’s facility in the region was also struck.
In addition, during the night attack on the Odesa district, warehouse premises, an administrative building, and a garage were damaged. Fires broke out but were extinguished by emergency services. No information on casualties or injuries has been reported.
